Vice President Kamala Harris is facing strong criticism on social media after calling for accountability following the fatal shooting of a Colombian national by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Biddeford, Maine.
Joan Sebastian Guerrero, 26, was killed by an ICE agent around 7 a.m. Monday. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), officers were surveilling a residence for an individual with a final order of removal. When ICE attempted to stop a vehicle leaving the home, the driver, identified as Guerrero, allegedly attempted to flee and the officer discharged his weapon. Guerrero's three-year-old daughter was reportedly in the backseat of the vehicle.
Harris stated on social media that Guerrero "should still be alive" and called the incident the second time in a week ICE agents had killed someone who "by their own admission — was not the subject of their operation." She was likely referring to the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was shot by DHS, with the department alleging he attempted to ram ICE agents with his car.
"This cannot be acceptable in America," Harris said. "There must be an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation. Anyone responsible for wrongdoing must be held accountable."
The vice president's remarks quickly drew backlash online, with critics attributing the shooting to current immigration policies and her past role as the administration's "border czar." Some social media users questioned the focus on the migrant's death while also bringing up other victims of crimes allegedly committed by undocumented immigrants.
Maine Senator Angus King reported that Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told him the ICE agent opened fire after Guerrero attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon. King also noted that the agents involved were not wearing body cameras, leaving a lack of video evidence of the incident. An investigation by the FBI and the Maine attorney general's office is underway. The agent involved has been placed on leave.
Details about Guerrero's status in the U.S. have varied. DHS stated agents were targeting someone with a final order of removal, while an immigration advocacy group, the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition, said Guerrero possessed a work authorization permit and a social security number.
In the wake of the shooting and another fatal ICE encounter in Houston days earlier, officials reportedly instructed ICE officers to suspend most vehicle stops, with exceptions for executing criminal warrants or working with partner agencies. This incident marks at least the ninth death involving ICE using deadly force since early 2025, according to reports.
Guerrero has been remembered by family as a hard-working man who came to the U.S. seeking a better future. The Colombian Embassy in the U.S. has requested answers regarding his death.